Modi opens Ayodha Ram temple where once stood the historic Babri Mosque. 

On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened a grand Hindu Ram temple in Ayodhya, built at the historic site where the Babri mosque stood before being demolished by Hindu extremists in the 1990s. The destruction of the 16th-Century mosque led to nationwide riots resulting in nearly 2,000 casualties.

Prime Minister Modi participated in the inauguration ceremony, known as Pran Pratishtha, held in the sensitive city. The event was attended by a large number of guests, including film stars and cricketers.

However, a significant portion of the Indian opposition chose to boycott the inauguration, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was using the event to garner votes, especially with general elections approaching in the coming months. They argued that the BJP would leverage the construction of the temple to appeal to the Hindu majority, which constitutes 80% of the population.

The temple’s construction, with a cost of $217 million, was reportedly funded through private donations, as stated by the temple trust.

The televised inauguration ceremony showcased Modi engaging in religious rituals inside the temple, accompanied by priests and Mohan Bhagwat, the head of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). While only the ground floor of the Hindu temple was unveiled, the completion of the entire structure is anticipated by the end of the year.

In September 2020, a court in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh acquitted all 32 accused individuals, including former Deputy Prime Minister L. K Advani, who were involved in the attack on and demolition of the Babri mosque.